We Are OK.

Just thought I'd go on and say that - We are OK. Just to not panic anyone. I say that because as I type my hands are shaking, and I've now dropped more "F" bombs in one hour than I've dropped collectively my entire life. That's a lot of "F" bombs. I'll probably go straight to hell. Immediately.

Out on our walk this evening Nick and I got attacked by a bully breed dog. I don't know what it specifically was, other than it was brindled, male, gorgeous, short, muscular, pissed off, and running at us from about 4 houses down. I hesitate to mention that, so let me interject here that I mention the breed for descriptive purposes. Anyway, I only had enough time to think, "OMG, which one of us is he coming for?" and enough time to assume it was Nick and then to think "I'm going to step in here, and then he's probably going to turn on me". His owner by this time was screaming his name (a name that I've forgotten in the aftermath, but I had the random thought, "what a sissy name for such a badass dog") and running after him.

When he got to me I turned slightly in front of Nick and kicked the fucker right as he came into us. He still nailed Nick in what sounded like a body slam, but he more or less glanced off of him and rolled about ten feet into the neighbor's yard. I was screaming "GET YOUR FUCKING DOG GET YOUR FUCKING DOG GET YOUR FUCKING DOG!!!!!" this whole time. The guy was not far behind his dog, who was at the moment picking himself up out of the neighbor's yard for a second pass. By this time I'd already picked Nick up, and had swung him around to my other side (putting myself between the dog and Nick), a move I'm sure my back will thank me for later. That is once the adrenaline stops flowing, anyway.

Fortunately when the guy got there the dog rolled over onto his back before he could make another pass, and that was the end of it. The guy appeared suprised, and apologized profusely. He told me where he lived, and said if there was any damage to come get him. The dog did, at one point get up and circle around to make another pass, but the guy was on him quickly. I bid a hasty retreat after checking Nick over very carefully.

Nick hasn't a mark on him - other than the black spots on the backs of his hind legs where he hit the deck when I started screaming. I'm not hurt either. We both, however, were fairly shaken up. I've worked over the past few weeks to get Nick to relax on these walks, and he slinked (slunk? slank? whatever!) all the way back to the house. I suspect much of that was his reading MY emotions, as I was freaking out. I really hope this won't be a permanent setback to his ability to walk in the neighborhood.

However, coupled with this, the drug thug neighbor dudes who've been ogling me, and the freaky staring guy right before the dog thing, I think I'm done here.

Interestingly enough, Nick never made to fight back, never raised a hackle, nothing. I am not even 100% sure he realized yet what was going on. Oh, and I'm not sure the guy realized I kicked his dog. I'm not sure the DOG realized I'd kicked him. I didn't feel compelled to point that part out though.

You know, I've never really understood on a deep gut level the folks who come onto boards like the BC Boards and post about "my dog was attacked by another dog". I get it now. I get it in a way that I wish I'd never lived to get it. I probably won't sleep tonight, or if I do it won't be well. I realize that sounds dramatic, but there it is.

So, the sidewalk out in front of my house takes me 2-3 minutes to go from one end to the other. That's only ten passes per walk. Nick buddy, you gotta rehab FAST.

So we're physically OK. My one prayer is that emotionally HE is over it already. My other prayer is that a Subway Club is going to do it. At the moment I feel very much like a whole lot more food than that. I've got the points, but I hate to waste them on emotional eating.

That is all.